From the start of our study, of this letter from Paul to the Philippians, we have characterized it as a letter between friends. Philippi was the first-place Paul went after the Lord opened the door for him to go to Asia and gave him the dream of a man from Macedonia asking for Paul to come and help them. This was the first church of Asia. Paul referred to them as friends, brothers and sisters, partners and co-laborers, he credited them as being equal to him in the spread of the gospel and he spoke without reservation about his love for them and joy because of them. As friends often do, Paul used this letter to address concerns, to repeat important topics and even to correct what he viewed as errors in how they were living with each other in community. Much of the letter had been about mindsets, Paul addressed the concerns that the Philippians had about his imprisonment and shared his attitude. He challenged them to choose humility and to think like Jesus in their relationships, all of them, with their friends, their community, their country and even their enemies. In chapter 3 Paul has gone to great lengths to teach his mindset to the Philippians and to both encourage and challenge them to learn to think the way he has learned to think, to “press on” and not allow themselves to be stuck in anything old or deceived by anything new. Paul used the phrase “press on” twice and then closed that thought with this command “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” In tonight’s passage Paul continues to address his concerns for the Philippians but he begins to move them from mindset to action, to teach them that the purpose of having the mind of Christ is not increased knowledge but deepened relationships, increased humility and righteous action. Paul began this chapter by asking the Philippians to learn from his mindset, he closes it by asking them to follow his example because his desire is not that they simply understand him but that they begin to imitate him as well. An important lesson for all of us is that our attitude creates our actions and to truly possess the mind of Christ we will have to allow the Holy Spirit to use us to demonstrate the life of Christ.